Fence gate



Aug. 2 7, 1957 R. A. DVENOVAN FENCE GATE Filed Dec. 2, 195 s INVENTOR. Raifierzflflenovan BY QM. @QM

,move.

United States Patent FENCE GATE Robert A. Denovan, Montreal West, Quebec, Canada Application December 2, 1955, Serial No. 550,572

,Claims priority, application Canada January 27,1955

1 Claim. (CI. 3974) This invention relates to a wire fence gate.

The conventional fence gate for farms and the like is costly, readily subject to damage, and difficult to repair. Since it is essentially of the hinged, swinging type, it is subject to sagging, unless the gate post is carefully set, and frequently strikes the ground, making it difiicult to It will not normally open back against the fence, and hence projects into the field or road when opened, in

which position it is troublesome and subject to damage.

There are many locations in farm fences where gates are necessary but which require to be opened only at widely spaced intervals. Many attempts have been made in the past to provide a low cost gate of the seldom opened type for use in these locations but, because low cost is a major requirement, such gates are frequently unsatisfactory in use.

An object of the present invention is to provide a low cost gate of the seldom opened type, such gate being convenient and effective in use, and inexpensive to maintain.

The invention contemplates the provision of a gate comprising a length of conventional wire fencing, means swingably attaching one end of such length of fencing to a post, rigid slat members clamped to the other end of the length of fencing, and a plurality of stretching jacks connecting the slat members to a second post, the jacks being readily releasable to permit swinging of the gate into open position.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of a gate structure in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged partial plan view of the gate closing end of the structure,

Figure 3 is an enlarged partial elevational view of the gate closing end of the structure,

Figure 4 is an enlarged partial plan view of the hinged end of the structure,

Figure 5 is an enlarged partial plan view of a modified form of hinged end structure, and

Figure 6 is an enlarged partial elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 5.

In the drawing, 1 and 2 are posts constituting a portion of a fence and with which is associated the gate structure of the present invention.

In accordance with the invention, a suitable length 3 of conventional Wire fencing is utilized to form the body of the gate. The hinged end of the gate may be conveniently formed by looping the ends of the longitudinal strands 4 of the fencing 3 through any suitable means carried by post 1. If the post is wood, such means may simply comprise staples 5 driven into the post. A closed loop 6 is formed in each case to provide a hinge about which the length of fencing 3 may be swung. As an alternative structure, the loops 6 may be attached to a Wood or steel post by means of additional loops of fence wire extending around the post. Thus, allowance can be made for inequality in the loops 6.

2,803,899 atented A 27 9 Alternatively, the hinged end of the gate may be formed by clamping the ends of strands 4 between a pair of slats 6, which may be formed of wood. Also bolted to the slats 6' are two or more looped or U-shaped metal strips 7 for engagement with conventional gate hinge members 8 mounted on the post 1.

The closing end of the structure is formed by clamping the ends ofstrands 4 between a pairof slats 9 bolted together by bolts 10, and by providing a pair of stretching jacks 11, adjacent the top and bottom respectively of the slats 9.

.Each jack 11 comprises a pair of metal plates 12 belted to the slats 9 and in the projecting ends of which is rotatably mounted a roller 13. The roller 13, which thus extends transversely of the slats 9, is secured in place on the plates 12 by suitable means, such as cotter pins 14. The roller 13 has an end portion 15 projecting beyond each plate 12 and is provided with a transverse opening 16. Secured to the intermediate portion of roller 13, between plates 12, are a pair of short lengths of chain 17. One end link of each chain 17 is looped around a bolt or pin 18 mounted on the roller 13. The other or free end of each chain is adapted to be removably fastened to a clip 19 carried by post 2. Each clip 19 has a slotted hook portion 20 on which any selected chain link may be hooked, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

A jack bar 21, which may comprise a metal rod having a stop 22 adjacent one end, is provided. As shown in Figure 3, the end portion of the bar 21 adjacent stop 22, is adapted to be inserted through one or other of openings 16, and the bar then actuated to impart rotation to the roller 13. It will be apparent that rotation of the roller 13 in either direction will impart a pulling action on one chain length 17 while slackening the other.

In operation, the gate is placed in closed position manually and the top chain of the top jack extended to the limit of roller 13 and placed in its respective clip on the post 2. The roller is now rotated by the jack bar, thus starting the stretching of the wire length 3. When fully rotated, the lower chain is extended and. placed in its Clip and the roller rotated in the opposite direction. This operation is repeated until the required tension on the gate is obtained and finally locked by leaving both chains in their respective clips. The operation is then repeated with the bottom jack. Preferably, both jacks are operated alternately to obtain a more uniform tension on the wire length 3. Preferably also, the jack bar, when not in use, is left in inserted position in the top jack, whereby it is always available to tighten the gate should any slackness develop.

It will be observed that all the load placed on the gate posts is in the longitudinal direction of the fence, the right angular load present in conventional swing gates being eliminated.

An important advantage of the gate described is that it can be of any length required to fit between existing posts, or new posts can be set Where convenient without being adapted to a specific gate size. The conventional gate is of definite length, i. e., l0, 12, 14, or 16 feet, 16 feet being about the practical limit for a conventional gate. The gate of the present invention may, however, be employed in much greater length. For instance, a 20 foot gate as described may be used without trouble and one 30 or more feet long is feasible. When the gate is over 16 feet in length, it is preferred that a centre stiffener comprising two light slats bolted vertically to the wire be employed.

When the gate is left open, it is extended back against the fence, the roller end set between the fence strands and the jack bar placed in the hole in the end of the roller behind the strand, thus positively locking the gate out of the way.

In addition to the low first cost of the gate, it has an extremely long life since only the wire and slats are subject to damage and they can be replaced by the farmer or other user at little more than the cost of the fence wire As the gate is cut to fit the space in which it is to be placed, the ends may be cut at any angle to fit old posts which might not be vertical or parallel to each other.

e I claim:

In a fence gate having a pair of posts and a length of conventional wire fencing arranged for hinged connection at one end to one of said posts, a latch structure comprising a pair of rigid slats fixed to and clamping therebetween a portion of the other end of said length, and a plurality of independent stretching jacks mounted on said slats, each said jack comprising a plate fixed to the outer surface of each said slat, each said plate having a portion projecting laterally beyond said slats, said projecting portions being spaced from each other, each said projecting portion having a circular opening therein, said circular openings being in alignment, a roller journalled in said openings and having an end projecting outwardly from at least one of said plates, said projecting end of the roller having a jack bar receiving opening projecting diametrically therethrough, and a pair of chains each having one end secured to the midsection of said roller between said plates.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITLD STATES PATENTS 566,031 Sommer et a1 Aug. 18, 1896 803,441 Shaw et al Oct. 31, 1905 928,798 Rowe July 20, 1909 2,743,125 Wagner Apr. 24, 1956 

